“Repeated combat actions by U.S. aviation under the cover of counterterrorism against lawful armed forces of a country that is a member of the U.N. are a massive violation of international law and de facto a military aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic.”

An ABC report appears to back up Moscow’s claims:

“Over the last four weeks, the U.S. has conducted three air strikes on pro-regime forces backed by Iran that have moved into a deconfliction zone around the town of Tanf in southwestern Syria, where there is a coalition training base for local forces fighting ISIS.”

Russia has now declared an end to cooperation to prevent air clashes over Syria and asserted an intent to track and target aerial intruders in its area of operations west of the Euphrates.

Such targets would be U.S. planes and surveillance drones.

If Moscow is not bluffing, we could be headed for U.S.-Russian collision in Syria.

Sunday’s shoot-down of a hostile aircraft was the first by U.S. planes in this conflict. It follows President Trump’s launch of scores of cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield in April. The U.S. said the airfield was the base of Syrian planes that used chemical weapons on civilians.

We are getting ever deeper into this six-year sectarian and civil war. And what we may be witnessing now are the opening shots of its next phase — the battle for control of the territory and population liberated by the fall of Raqqa and the death of the ISIS “caliphate.”

The army of President Bashar Assad seeks to recapture as much lost territory as possible and they have the backing of Russia, Iranian troops, Shiite militia from Iraq and Afghanistan, and Hezbollah.

Assad’s and his allied forces opposing ISIS are now colliding with the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces opposing ISIS, which consist of Arab rebels and the Syrian Kurds of the PYD.

But if America has decided to use its air power to shoot down Syrian planes attacking rebels we support, this could lead to a confrontation with Russia and a broader, more dangerous, and deadly war for the United States.

How would we win such a war, without massive intervention?

Is this where we are headed? Is this where we want to go?

For, again, Congress has never authorized such a war, and there seems to be no vital U.S. interest involved in who controls Raqqa and neighboring lands, as long as ISIS is expelled. During the campaign, Trump even spoke of U.S.-Russian cooperation to kill ISIS.

While in Saudi Arabia, however, he seemed to sign on to what is being hyped as an “Arab NATO,” where the U.S. accepts Riyadh as the principal ally and leader of the Gulf Arabs in the regional struggle for hegemony with Shiite Iran.

Following that Trump trip, the Saudis — backed by Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain — sealed their border with Qatar, which maintains ties to Iran. And though Qatar is also host to the largest U.S. air base in the region, al-Udeid, Trump gave the impression its isolation was his idea.

President Trump and his country seem to be at a decision point.

If, after the fall of ISIS in Raqqa, we are going to use U.S. power and leverage to solidify the position of Syrian rebels and Kurds, at the expense of Damascus, we could find ourselves in a collision with Syria, Russia, Hezbollah, Iran and even Turkey.

For Turkish President Erdogan looks on our Kurdish allies in Syria as Kurdish allies of the terrorist PKK inside his own country.

During the campaign, candidate Trump won support by pledging to work with Russia to defeat our common enemy. But if, after ISIS is gone from Syria, we decide it is in our interests to confront Assad, we are going to find ourselves in a regional confrontation.

In Iraq, the U.S. and Iran have a common foe, ISIS, and a common ally, the government in Baghdad. In Syria, we have a common foe, ISIS. But our allies are opposed by Assad, Russia, Iran and Hezbollah.

The question before us: After Raqqa and Mosul fall and the caliphate disappears, who inherits the ISIS estate?

The U.S. needs now to delineate the lines of advance for Syria’s Kurds, and to talk to the Russians, Syrians and Iranians.

We cannot allow our friends in the Middle East and Persian Gulf to play our hand for us, for it is all too often in their interests to have us come fight their wars, which are not necessarily our wars.

Comments

"For, again, Congress has never authorized such a war, and there seems to be no vital U.S. interest involved in who controls Raqqa and neighboring lands, as long as ISIS is expelled."I don't think we need that last part, "as long as ISIS is expelled." Take that out, and I agree. Pat Buchanan has a lot of good things to say, but it's unfortunate that he can't call a spade a spade in terms of who created ISIS, and that the US is in Syria for reasons that have nothing to do with ISIS.

As long as the self-chosen puppeteers remain in control, it does seem that a conflict of goy super-powers is inevitable. But, if an awakening of enough people occurs - and the lunacy of such a confrontation of kindred races is understood, there is hope that the "conflict" would arise against the pathogen parasites - and NOT their mutual hosts.

Scythian burials are fair european types, not turkic. DNA tests proof also.. Scythian, Cimmerians and related appeared about 710BC 1200 plus years apart from Khazars 500-600 AD expanded to north from caucasus, todays Turkey and close area identified as land of gog, magog. Ancient maps show this. 1200 + years separated in time.... Scythians, Cimmerians and related had long before moved mostly westward arrived extreme west of Europe search: Declaration of Abroath the Scots claim their identity

I'm making over $7k a month working part time. I kept hearing other people tell me how much money they can make online so I decided to look into it. Well, it was all true and has totally changed my life. This is what I do... www.jobproplan.com

The Kurds are ethnically cleansing the Arab towns and cities they occupy. The US is providing them with $300 million worth of weapons. Not good. The Kurds are being suckered by israeli Kurds residing in Israel and US Zionists. Without permanent US presense, the number do not add up in their favor.

Why can't All-Powerful Jehovah Himself wipe the world clean of Muslims? Why does Jehovah need Americans on the other side of the world to do His job for Him? Is it because Jehovah doesn't even exist, but Abraham invented Him as a way to justify Abraham's genocide of all those people on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean so Abraham could steal their land?

Ralph Peters wrote an article about this subject in the NY Post reflecting the neocon propagandist point of view. http://nypost.com/2017/06/19/the-stakes-in-syria-now-include-us-russia-… Unfortunately, many believe the US is within it's rights to invade Syria. Add to that the false Russian narrative, which many also believe, and you have a public that will back the US in a war with Russia. As long as the public will support a war, the war will happen.

Unlike Korea, Vietnam or Iraq (and all the other little nations in between), Russia has the capability to bomb American cities.Once that happens, those who support wars might have an allergic reaction. Idiots. Is living in peace too much too ask for?

US Forces want the 400 to fly, that will be the quick end to it. I'll leave it at this, Russia has not a clue the force that would be unleashed on them if they attempt to attack our grerater troop numbers once deployed. It is not the skirmishes that I am worried about or the loss of a couple Russian or Syrian planes, but Russia will get pissed off and US forces will gather, then the gloves start to come off.I know, America has outdated old fighters and sitting duck coffin ships. You internet cowboys really have no clue what America has at its disposal.

"Trump won support by pledging to work with Russia to defeat our common enemy". Where are all the Trumpets who brayed so loudly up to the election and for a short time thereafter here on ZH and elsewhere? Who endlessly denigrated liberals and progressives as wooly headed and extolled their own "fact oriented views" and "patriotism"?Here's a fact for you: Trump is a terrorist-supporting double-dealing traitor. You've been had. How does it feel to be so deeply butt-fucked?

Trump's already chosen Saudi above MAGA speak Interests, participating in the Genocide in Yemen to Training Terrorists to fight in Syria & Iraq. Clear evidence as to where and to whom his loyalties lie.

At least many who supported Trump are pissed off about Syria and antagonistic attitude towards Russia.Obama supporters remained deaf and blind to that jackass' lies and broken promises for the entire 8 years.Hillary supporters ignored her actual crimes.Say what you will, but those who supported Trump are not following blindly.

Empires fail and fall when they have thoroughly corrupted their money. The only leg of the pillar supporting US hegemony is its military. SWIFT is dead as a deterent. No one wants to by the debt except the Fed and the ESF. Fort Knox is empty except, some say, canisters of poison gas. The petrodollar is toast. The trade imbalance is over $600B. Rumor has it that countries making real shit like computers and steel don't want dollars any more. Much of the arms are overpriced garbage, long on concept and very short on sustainability and reliability, overly complex and constantly breaking. I don't think US GI's can effectively fight against Russians because, at some level they know that they are mercenaries fighting for cowardly satanic bankster pedophile scum. And they know that this scum holds them in complete contempt for beings such suckers, or as Kissinger calls them, stupid animals. I think that the neocons and neolibs with their Israeli relatives are toying with the Samson option. We will know we are in deep shit when the famous people with tickets to the deep underground cities (so called DUMBs) start to disappear from the media.

US is circling the drain which is quite obvious to anyone who is not sufficiently distracted and the required level of distraction is increasing. After knocking down the chess pieces and shitting on the board now it wants to "win" the chess title by engaging in a fist fight. Just think of level of desperation that must be permeating it's thought process to even entertain the idea that slapping Russia in the face will make it submissive. Honestly, don't hold any hope for US, it just can't resist it's lowest demons. It's a junkie that doesn't care anymore for decency nor what anyone else think of it. Delirious mind and rotting on the inside and the outside, Don't let it in your house, don't trust it's word on anything and keep your assets out of it's reach.